You are reading

City Council Legalizes E-Bikes, E-Scooters

Photo: Stock Unsplash

June 25, 2020 By Christian Murray

The New York City Council passed legislation Thursday that legalizes the operation of most e-bicycles and e-scooters.

The legislation is a long time coming but the council had to wait for Albany to pass legislation allowing municipalities to approve their use. That took place earlier this year after much prompting by Queens legislators State Sen. Jessica Ramos and Assembly Member Nily Rozic.

The council essentially codified what the state passed earlier this year.

The legislation passed today legalizes e-bikes with a top speed of 25 miles per hour and e-scooters with a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour.

The rules governing e-bikes and e-scooters have been murky in New York City for some time. Up until now, pedal-assisted e-bikes were legal but throttle-powered e-bikes and scooters were not.

The throttle-powered e-bikes are popular with food delivery people.

The NYPD, with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s backing, had a history of confiscating throttle-powered e-bikes– and ticketing workers riding them. Both the mayor and NYPD were heavily criticized for doing so.

Council Member Costa Constantinides lauded the council for its vote today.

“I am proud to be part of a city council that continues to adapt and innovate based on the evolutions of our streetscape,” Constantinides said. “E-bikes and e-scooters have become an environmentally friendlier way to meet the rush of meal delivery demands, first brought about by online-ordering apps and then the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The council also passed legislation requiring the Department of Transportation to set up an e-scooter share pilot program—like Citi Bike—outside of Manhattan.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

Featured Events

Post an Event

View All Events…

One Comment

Click for Comments 
Yankswun98

Do the owners of these powered transportation have to get them inspected and have insurance?

2
Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News
Flushing sex trafficking ring exposed, manager and enforcer convicted of brutal crimes: Feds

The manager and enforcer of a Flushing-based sex trafficking and prostitution ring were convicted on Tuesday by a federal jury in Brooklyn on felony charges, including assault in aid of racketeering and Hobbs Act robbery, following a month-long trial.

The jury found Siyang Chen, 35, of Queens, guilty of sex trafficking conspiracy, several assaults in-aid-of-racketeering, and Hobbs Act conspiracy and convicted Yichu Chen, 22, also of Queens, of the robbery and assault of a sex worker. Siyang Chen has now been convicted on all counts in a superseding indictment with which he was charged. When sentenced, he faces up to life in prison, and Yichu Chen faces up to 20 years in prison.

Read More
0
Whitestone man arrested for allegedly running $1M cable theft operation: DA

A Whitestone man was arrested for allegedly making and distributing forged modem devices filled with malware that mimics legitimate cable and streaming services in a takedown of a major cable theft operation in Flushing and Whitestone, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Tuesday.

Kong Gao, 35, of 154th Street in Whitestone, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Nov. 15 on a criminal complaint charging him with fraudulent making of an electronic device and criminal possession of forgery devices after approximately 200 of the fraudulent modem devices were seized from his home.

Read More
0
Load More Articles